Process Page
Construction of "Memento Mori" from beginning sketches, to building, to packing.
Some words on process:
I almost always use a low-fire earthenware clay body that I make from scratch (Whiting 6.1, Talc 12.2, Silica 20.2, OM 4 Ball Clay 45.9) and then bisque fire to cone 04. Sometimes I finish the work with glaze, underglaze, oil paint or a combination of all three. Lately I have been primarily utilizing oil paints because not only do I love the process, but I love the look of the finished product. Nothing parallels the delicious surface quality of oil paints as well as the depth attained by layering up a myriad of translucent and luminous colors. I love the control I have over the oil paints and that there is no color unavailable to me, unlike underglazes. I also like that what you see is what you get. No surprises after opening a kiln! As you can see, I primarily work with the slab method of construction in conjunction with press molding and slip casting.
Click here for an in-depth process statement.
1) original sketch plus life-size drawing 2) slab construction 3) modifying shape by removing wedges of clay
4) compare to drawing 5) score & slip 6) Shaping from the inside with soft rib 7) shaping with soft rib
8) placing chest 9) placing neck 10) score, slip, coil 11) adding curve & length to neck 12) cut out triangle to curve neck
13) squeeze clay together 14) draw on wedge shape 15) remove wedge shape
16) pull neck forward, score, slip 17) Constructing head- slumping clay in a ball shaped plaster mold
18) compress clay with soft rib inside mold 19) remove 20) squeeze and turn the half round shapes into half-oval shapes
21) shaping oval head 22) removing wedges of clay to turn oval shape into an animal-head shape
23) paddling eye sockets into shape
24) constructing hind haunches 25) paddling indentation for hind haunch
26) score, slip & attach hind haunch 27) pinch potting back feet
28) attaching back feet 29) cut out shape for front legs 29) manipulating front leg and let it set up until leather hard
30) cutting & attaching front leg 31) construct tail from solid coil of clay
32) cut in half & hallow out tail 33) score, slip & put back together & attach to animal 34) construct ears
35) shaping ears with soft rib 36) adding coil to define ear shape 37) attach ear into hole in head (both leather hard)
38) score, slip, add coil to join & blend 39) construct body of top animal 40) remove wedge shape
41) remove triangle 42) score, slip, add coils, blend 43) compare to drawing 44) add head
45) score, slip, add coil 46) add tail 47) score, slip, insert ear into hole 48) score, slip, add coil and blend
49) clean-up both animals with metal ribs 50) Attach animals (both leather hard)
51) sand with heavy grit sandpaper 52) sponge out sandpaper lines & clean eyes with paintbrush 53)constructing bumblebees
54) making mold of bees- bedding out for plaster 55) constructing flowers and preparing to make mold
56) bedding out flowers for plaster 57) drying the finished molds
58) fire and remove from kiln 59) seal and underpaint with acrylic 60) first coat of oil paint
61) finished piece 62) pack piece using styrofoam insulation one layer at a time.
63) drawing on adjustments to be cut out with knife to ensure proper fit
64) glue in the first few layers into box
65) add animal 66) add the remaining layers of styrofoam
